BFMC Names New Facilitator for Heart to Heart Support Group

GREENFIELD — Vicky Lynde, assistant principal of Twin Valley High School in Wilmington, Vt., has been named the new facilitator of Baystate Franklin Medical Center’s Heart to Heart support group for women with heart disease.

Meetings take place the third Tuesday of each month from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the hospital’s Conference Room A. The purpose of Heart to Heart is to give women with heart disease mutual support, motivation to continue healthy lifestyle behaviors, and education on matters concerning heart disease and heart health.

Lynde, who has worked in education since 1984, received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in education in secondary school administration from UMass Amherst.

“I had my cardiac event at age 47, and among my feelings was astonishment,” Lynde recalled. “I was also terrified it would happen again. No one I knew had experienced this, and there was no one to talk to or with whom to share my feelings.” Lynde lived with her feelings for many years until, about two years ago, she decided she wanted to do something to promote heart health. “As I was exploring the American Heart Assoc. Web site, I stumbled across the WomenHeart site.”

WomenHeart is the only national organization for female survivors of heart disease. The organization sponsors many seminars and symposiums, including one at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., which Lynde attended in October 2010. “Attending was the best thing I’ve done for myself,” she said. “Being in the presence of 50 other women who had experienced the same thing I had was amazing. And this symposium gave me the tools to share the word, both as an advocate for women like me who have experienced heart attacks and other forms of cardiovascular disease, and as a proactive motivator for women to recognize the signs and learn how to take care of themselves and their heart health.”

Kathryn Aubry-McAvoy, NP, established the program in 2008. As Aubry-McAvoy is pursuing a new career, she invited Lynde to take over coordinating the support group. “Vicky’s active role in WomenHeart will make her an excellent leader for our group,” Aubrey-McAvoy said. “I look forward to continuing as a regular member of the group and know we will continue to thrive with Vicky as facilitator.

“We welcome any and all women who have any kind of heart disease,” she continued. “The group is a lively bunch. They tend to self-run the meetings, discussing issues since the previous meeting or sharing recipes or exercise ideas, and keeping each other going.”

Each meeting has a different theme, covering such topics as stress reduction, aging, exercise, food and nutrition, medications, the financial impact of living with heart disease, and how families are affected. “There’s always a lot of support and problem-solving at every meeting,” Aubrey-McAvoy continued.

“Heart disease is frightening, but it doesn’t need to prevent you from leading a normal, healthy life,” Lynde said. “In fact, having a heart attack can often lead women to a lifestyle that’s even healthier than before the heart attack. Support groups offer people a chance to unite around their common experiences and find positive solutions to problems.”

For more information on the Heart to Heart support group, contact Lynde atvickylynde@hotmail.com or leave her a message at (413) 624-3677; she returns calls as soon as possible.